Sign projection apparatus



M. H. GOLDBERG sIGN PROJECTION APPARATU Aug. 24, 1937.

Filed July 27, 1936 Patented Aug. 24, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT vOFFICE y 4 Claims.

This invention relates to projection apparatus in general, and more particularly to an improved sign projection apparatus adapted for use for advertising purposes by projecting words or sym- 5 bols on a screen or other plain surface, the image of these words or symbols traveling across the surface of the screen at a constant predetermined rate of speed, so that long messages may be exhibited.

It is the main object of this invention to produce an improved sign lof the image projection type whereby a continuous moving series of advertisements may be displayed upon any plain surface, the device including a relatively large 15 film aperture, whereby several words of a message may be projected, thereby eliminating excessive enlargement.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improve'd sign of the image projection type 20 which will produce a continuous moving series of advertisements to be read horizontally, said images being capable of display on any surface having ordinary reflecting properties.

Another object of the invention'is to produce 25 an improved sign of the image projection type in which a continuous loop film is employed, novel and improved means for housing said film, and means associated with said housing means for adjustingthe desired length of i'llm to be used.

30 A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved sign of the image projection type which will be compact in size, cheap 1 and simple of operation, and which will be at the same tixnehighly eilicient for carryingout 35 the purposes for which it is designed.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of 40 parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacricing any of the advantages of the invention. l

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of my invention, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawing a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which when considered in connection with the following description, my invention, its mode of construction, as- 55 sembly and operation, and many of its advan- (Cl. 88-28) Y tages should be readily understood and appreciated.

Referring to the drawing in which the same characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawing:

-Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved sign projection apparatus, the cover being removed therefrom;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is asectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and i Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. l.

Stated generally, the invention consists of a conventional stereopticon projecting and .condensing lens and light box combined with a iiovel construction of housing for receiving an endless film, means for actuating said lm, and means whereby the length of film used may be varied. The words or symbols appearing on the character bearing element or film may be projected on any surface having reflecting properties at a constant predetermined rate of speed, so that long messages maybe displayed or exhibited without necessitating excessive enlargement.

Referring to the drawing more specifically by characters of reference, the numeral I designates a housing within which is -mounted a light source II, reiiector I2 and condensing lenses I 3. Attached to said housing is a substantially rectangular film carrying housing I4, which is attached tosaid housing I0 by'means of suitable screws extending through brackets or projections I6 provided on the housing I4, the latter being secured to the housing I Il to the front and rear walls thereof. The housing I4 is thus suitably spaced from the housing I0 so as to protect the film disposed therein from the heat created by the light source II in the housing I0.

The housing I4 is provided with a cover meme ber I which is fastened in place in any suitable manner when the device is in fully assembled position. The housing I4 is adapted. to enclose a character bearing element or lm I1, which in the present instance is made of material such as that found in motion picture'films, and is made in an endless ring or band form, as shown in the drawing'.

Adjacent the forward end of the housing I4 is provided a substantially rectangular shaped member I8 havinga rectangular aperture I9 provided therein, which aperture is in alignment with an opening 28 provided in the housing I0 and to the rear of which opening are mounted the condensing lenses I3.. The opening I 9 provided in the frame I8 is relatively long, so that several words or messages to be read may be projected therethrough, thereby eliminating excessive enlargement.

Disposed in front of said film opening I 9 is a suitably hinged `member 2| which is normally 10 held in closed position, as shown in' Fig. 3, by

means of a spring 22, said member 2| being effective for maintaining the illm I1 in a substantially vertical position as it passes along-said opening. Extending forwardly from said member I8 are a pair of hollow members 23 and 24 within which are telescopically mounted rods 25 and 26, to the free ends of which rods is secured a frame member 21 carrying a projecting lens 28. 'I'he lens 28 may be adjusted towards and away from the4 iilm opening by means of adjustable screws 29 (Figs. 1 and 4).

In the forward ends of the housing I4 are rotatably mounted a pair of rollers 30 and 3|, between which rollers the film I1 is stretched across the eld of the lenses I3 and 28. From the roller 3| the film extends rearwardly and passes around a. roller 32, then forwardly and around a roller 33, then rearwardly again around a roller 34. From the roller 34, the film extends across the rear end of the housing I4 around a roller 35, then forwardly to a roller 36, then rearwardly again to a roller 31, and then forwardly again around the roller 30. The roller 32' is mounted within an elongated slot 38 (Fig. 1)

provided in the bottom wall of one side of the housing I4, whereby the said roller may be adjusted along said slotl to vary the tension on the iilm and also to permit the disposition within said housing of films of varying lengths. 'I'he 40 length of film may also be varied by eliminating the roller 31, for example, in which oase the film would pass from the roller 36 directly to the roller 30. All of said rollers may be mounted upon pins secured to the bottom wall of the housing I4, or in some other suitable and well known manner.

To actuate said lm I1, the roller 3| is provided with suitable teeth 39 which are received within projections (not shown) provided adjacent the'top and bottom of the film' I1. `The roller 3| is-connected to a shaft 40 which is driven by a motor 4I.

To secure sufiicient friction between the fllm I1 and the driving roller 3|, I provide a friction roller 42 (Figs. 1 and 5) which is eccentrically mounted on a. stud 43 extending through an opening in the bottom wall of the housing. I4. A suitable wing nut 44 may be used for securing the roller 42 in adjusted position.

The operation of the device is as follows: The motor 4I is supplied with current from any suitable source, and the lamp II is energized so that it throws a beam of light through the condensing lenses I3. The motor drives the shaft 48 which Y in turn drives the roller 3|, thereby moving the lm I1 with the various words and symbols provided thereon past the aperture 20. As a result, the image of the words or symbols von the lm is thrown against the screen, these images traveling across the screen from right to left at a slow rate of speed, so that new Words or symbols are constantly appearing on the screen.

It will be noted that the device is so constructed that the same is highly useful for advertising purposes, end is lcapable of being set up in such a position that it can throw its image on a screen or plain wall located in-a position where it can be seen by the public. It'will also be noted that the device is simply constructed. compact, and when once set in operation, will operate with very little attention. y

It will further be noted that the housing I4 carrying the lm I1 is so arranged with reference to the housing Il carrying the light II that it is completely insulated therefrom, thereby pre; venting damage to the film by reason of excessive heat. 'Ihis insulative feature is also due in part to the fact that the housing I4 completely surrounds and'encloses the film I1, which further results in weather-proof protection of the film to adapt the device to outside use. It will A also be noted that the iilxn may be readily inserted and removed from the housing I4 and that the length of lm may be varied by merely adjusting the roller 32.

It is believed that my invention, its mode of construction and assembly, and many of its advantages should be readily understood from the foregoing without further description, and it should also be manifest that while a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed for illustrative purposes, the structural details are nevertheless'capable of wide variation within the purview of my invention as delined in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: 1. A device of the character described comprising a housing carrying' a light source and a condensing lens, a projecting lens disposed in front of said housing, a substantially U-shaped trough-like member surrounding said housing in spaced relationship thereto, an endless lm having characters provided thereon running lengthwise thereof disposed within said trough-like member, rollers in the forward ends ofsaid trough-like member adapted to have the iilm l stretched therebetween through the field of said lenses, a plurality oi other rollers positioned within said trough-like member adapted to have a.

portion of said illm stretched therebetween, means for actuating said 111m, and a removable cover for said trough-like member, whereby said iilm is effectively protected and is insulated from heat generated by said light source.

2. A device of the character described comprising a housing carrying a light source and a condensing lens, a projecting lens disposed in front of said housing, va substantially U-shaped troughlike member surrounding said housing in 'spaced relationship thereto, an endles's lm having characters provided thereon running lengthwise thereof disposed within said trough-like member, rollers in the forward ends of said troughlike member adapted to have the fllm stretched therebetween through the field of said lenses, a plurality of other rollers positioned within said trough-like member adapted to have a portion of said lm stretched therebetween, means for actuating said film, one of said last mentioned rollers being adjustably mounted in a slot in said trough-like member, whereby the tension on said lm may be varied, and a removable cover for said trough-like member, whereby said nlm is eiectively protected and is insulated from heat generated by said light source. l

3. 4In a projection apparatus, a housing carrylng a light source and a condensing lens, a projecting lens disposed in front of said housing in loptical alignment with said light source and said condensing lens, a substantially U-shaped, hollow housing mounted upon yand extending substantially around said first housing and air-` separated therefrom, an endless film disposed within said U-shaped housing and extending between said condensing lens and said projecting lens, and means for moving said iilm therepast, whereby free circulation of air over and between said housings is obtained by natural draft so that said iilm is effectively protected and is insulated from heat generated by said light source.

4. In a projection apparatus, a housing carrying a light source and a condensing lens, a projecting lens disposed in front of said housing in optical alignment with said light source and said condensing lens, a substantially U-shaped, hollow housing surrounding said rst housing in spaced relationship thereto; an endless lm disposed within said iJ-shapedl housing and extending between said condensing lens and said projecting lens, whereby said film is eectively protected and is insulated from heat generated by said light source by said U-shaped housing, a frame member mounted at the front of said rst housing between the end portions of said U-shaped housing having an aperture in 'optical alignment with said light source and said lenses through which said film extends, means for moving said nlm through said aperture, a second frame member pivotally mounted on said first frame member having an aperture therein adapted to substantially coincide with said first aperture, and spring means vfor resiliently maintaining said frame m'embers in contact with each other to maintain said lmin proper position in the field of said lenses.

MAURICE H. GOLDBERG. 

